Manifold order-book.



No. 628,008. v Patented luly 4, I899.

L. A. KEITH.

MANIFOLD ORDER BOOK.

(Application filed Swept. 7, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

l V/ TN/FSS/FS: INVENTOR,

A TTORNEVV Tm: NORRIS PETERS o0 PrlcTo-u'rua, WASHINGTON n. c.

I Patented July 4, I899.

L. A. KEITH. MANIFOLD onnsn so0K.

(Application filed Sept. 7, 1898.)

2 5heetsSheet 2,

(No Model.)

yaw/1L! M,

(/7 Mai/aw UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

' LORI-N A. KEITH, OF MANSFIELD, oIIIo.

MANIFOLD ORDER-BOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 628,008, dated J lily 4, 1899.

Application filed September 7,1898. Serial No. 690,449. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that'I, LORIN A. KEITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manifold Order-Books, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates generally to manifold order-books, and has particular reference to the mechanismtherein which holds the tablet to the base or cover.

While myinvention may be readily used in connection with any style of order-book, it is particularly adapted for use in the type wherein a tablet composed of contiguous blank orders or forms and duplicates thereof is arranged in suitable covers in such manner that the form-orders constitute one-half of the book and the duplicates the remaining half, the tablet being detachably secured to the cover or base at or near the flexible hinge of the latter and being provided with a carbon-sheet suitably arranged for producing facsimile memorauda of the original bill of sale.

The object of my invention is to produce a, gripping-bar or retaining mechanism for the tablet which shall be of such simple construction as to permit of its being manufactured at a minimum cost, that will be durable and effective in operation, and finally that will be of such formation that the several parts of the mechanism will be wholly inclosed within the covers of the book, thus preventing the liability of tearing when said order-book is carried in the pocket of the user.

With these objects in View my invention consists, broadly, in a manifold order-book comprising, essentially, a base-section, a tablet thereon, and an improved gripping mechanism for detachably securing the tablet to inafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which--- Figure 1 is aperspective viewof a manifold order-book with my improved tablet-securing mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gripping mechanism, the tablet being detached from the same to more clearly show the parts of the device. Fig. 3 is a detached front elevation of the carbon-sheet holder. Fig. 4.- is a similar View of the grip ping-plate. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the gripping mechanism. Fig. 6 is a section on line a: :r, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detached view of one of the arms; Fig. 8, a detail perspective view of the gripping mechanism detached from the tablet; Fig. 9, a detail perspective View of the base-plate, and Fig. 10 a detail perspective view of the gripping-bar.

The numeral 1, Fig. 1, designates the base or support in the type of order-book hereinbefore described, and 2 a suitable cover therefor, connected to the base by means of a flexible hinge 3. Upon the base is arranged the tablet 4:, which is detachably secured to said base by means of my improved gripping mechanism.

The tablet referred to comprises, preferably, a series of blank form-orders 5 and a corresponding number of duplicatesfi, contiguous with the forms, said tablets being arranged upon the base and cover in such manner that the form-orders constitute one-half of the book, while the duplicates constitute the remaining half.

The detailed construction of the gripping or retaining mechanism is as follows: The numeral 7 represents a plate, preferably metallic, arranged upon the base at the end adjacentto the flexible hinge and secured thereto by means of portions of its margins 7 7" being turned under and clamped to said base, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. This plate is further provided with a curved flange 8, along one edge, in proximity to the hinge, and also with a support 9, formed by striking up a portion of the plate adjacent to the flange. Upon each end of the plate mentioned, at the corners in proximity to the flange, portions of the plate-margins are turned up and secured to said flange, forming ears 10, which are perforated, as plainly shown in the figure last referred to. At each of the other corners of the plate and from the ends-thereof clips 11 are struck up, as shown, to form locks for ing-st rip supports and base.

the arms 13 of the gripping-bar and clamping-strip supports hereinafter referred to. These clips likewise constitute guides for the tablet.

Referring now to the gripping-bar and clamping-strip supports, it will be seen that each of these supports is composed of a single piece of spring-wire, which near its middle portion is formed into a spring-coil 15, the end portions of said supports constituting arms 13 and 14, respectively, the arm 14 being somewhat shorter than the arm 13 and normally extending below said arm 13. By forming the supports in this manner the shorter arms will act upon gripping mechanfilm for holding a tablet in place upon the base, as'will hereinafter appear. The arm 13 is provided with a transverse portion 16, adjacent to the coil, which is journaled in one of the perforated ears to form the pivotal connection between the gripping-bar and clamp- Each of the arms 13 is further provided with an offset 17 and an end portion 18, which is adapted to engage beneath one of the locking-clips 11. The shorter arms let have secured to their free ends, by means of straps 19, a transverse grippingbar 20.

It will be observed from the description of the mechanism as thus set forth that when the tablet is inserted beneath the gripping-bar in its proper position said bar will come in contact with the tablet some little time before the free ends of the arms 13 reach the position in which they may be locked. By forcing said arms down beneath the clips 11 a sufficient amount of pressure is brought to bear upon the tablet to hold the latter firmly to the base regardless of the number of sheets that constitute said tablet. Moreover, the tablet is held in such manner that after the blank form is severed from the duplicate the latter may be entirely withdrawn from beneath the gripping-bar. It will be further observed that the various parts of the gripping mechanismsuch as the ends of the arms, the transverse coils, clips, &c.--are arranged between the base and its cover in such manner that the book may be carried in the pocket of the user without danger of the parts tearing the clothing when the book is withdrawn from the pocket for use.

The gripping-bar is arranged across the base, with its ends extending beyond the edges of theleaves of the tablet, and the front edge 20 of the bar is shaped into a cuttingblade. This construction forms a cutting mechanism for severing the form-blanks from their duplicates and gives positive assurance that the leaves of the tablet will be properly cut and not torn in undesirable places.

The carbon-sheet holder,which forms a part of my improved'securing mechanism,consists, essentially, of a clamping-strip 21, hinged to the gripping-bar 20. In construction said clamping-strip comprises a rectangular strip of metalprovided along its center with an offset 22, which when the two plates are clamped to each other abuts against a corresponding offset 23 upon the gripping-bar. At the rear of said gripping-bar slots 24 are located, in which straps 25, formed upon the rear edge of the clamping strip, engage to form the hinge connection between said strip and bar.

The lower edge of the gripping-bar is likewise provided with a series of conical projections 26, adapted to register with a series of corresponding perforations 27 inthe clamping-bar 21. Upon each end of the clamping bar and centrally thereof is formed a spring arm or book 28, which when the parts are in a locked position engage over portions 29 of the inner members of the arms.

The carbon sheet 30 is inserted between the gripping-bar and clamping-strip just described in such manner that a portion of the sheet is arranged between the two offsets. When the bar and strip are locked, the sheet is held in posit-ion by the clamp formed by the offsets and likewise by the cone-shaped projections which register through the sheet with the perforations.

It will be readily observed from the description of the mechanism above set forth that a cover may be dispensed with, if desired, and only the base or support employed, upon which the tablet is arranged. As a matter of convenience, however, and to prevent the tablet from becoming soiled and the sheets mussed the cover is ordinarily used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a manifold order-book, the combina tion with abase, of a tablet thereon ,and means for detachably securing the tablet to the base, comprising two gripping mechanism supe ports arranged one near each edge of the base and pivotally connected with the latter near one of its ends, each having an arm, a gripping-bar carried by the arms, arranged transversely of the base and above the tablet, said barbeing constructed to come in contact with the tablet before the arms reach their locked position, and means for locking the free ends of the arms after the said contact is formed.

2. In a manifold order-book, the combination with a base of a tablet thereomand means for detachablysecurin g the tablet to the base, consisting of two gripping-mechanism supports arranged longitudinally one upon each side of the base and at one end thereof, and pi votally connected to the base at or near said end, and each having a pair of arms, a transverse gripping-bar secured to one arm of each of said supports, and means for locking the other arms to the base.

3. In a manifold order-book, the combination with a base, of a tablet thereon, and means for detachably securing the tablet to the base,

comprising two gripping mechanism supports arranged longitudinally one upon each side of the base and at one end thereof, and pivotally connected to the base at or near said end, and each having a pair of arms, one extending upwardly at an acute angle to the other in its unlocked position, a transverse gripping-bar connecting the free ends of the lower arms, and means for locking the free ends of the upper arms to the base.

4. In a manifold order-book, the combination with a base, of a tablet thereon,and means for detachably securing the tablet to the base,

consisting of two gripping-mechanism supports arranged longitudinally one upon each side of the base and at one end thereof, each support, being formed of a single piece of spring-wire, bent at or near the middle to form a coil at said point, a longitudinally-extending lower arm, and a top arm projecting upwardly at an acute"angle to the lower; said arms having a pivotal connection at or near their coil portions with the base at one of its ends, a gripping-bar carried by the lower arm, arranged above and transversely of the tablet, and means for locking the free. ends of the top arms to the base.

5. In a manifold order-book, the combination with a base, of a tablet thereon, two gripcarried by the supports, said bar beingarranged above and transversely of the tablet,

Y a clamping-strip mounted upon, and having a hinged connection with the gripping-bar, means for clamping the clamping-strip upon the gripping-bar, and means for locking the supports to the base.

6. In a manifold order-book, the combination with-a base for supporting a tablet thereon, a gripping-mechanism support pivoted to said base, near one end, a gripping-bar secured to said support, said support adapted to hold said bar in tight contact with the tablet, and-locking mechanism for locking said support to said base, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' LORIN A. KEITH.

Witnesses:

GEORGE BRINKLEY, G. L. GORTON. 

